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Tales of Alan Leon's Adventures & Discoveries
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INDEPENDENT TRAVEL GUIDE


A Guide to travel in
Peru and Bolivia

Machu Picchu Picture Machu Picchu - #1 Sacred Site of Peru
Be sure to check out the web site of Martin Gray, Sacred Sites Photographer www.sacredsites.com

 

For those of you not traveling with us, let me offer a guide to some of the places and people of my preference. These are people with whom a family feeling has grown, whose caring service has helped to hold our intent of pilgrimage. It is very much my pleasure to support them in this way.

Please do tell them that ALAN LEON SENT YOU, they are often people who have been very good to me during my many years of working in Peru and Bolivia and we will enjoy hearing how their good has come back to them. It may be that sometimes new people working there will not know my name but the owners certainly will.

Also check out our Travel Information for all the practicalities of travel.

 

TAXI TIPS: To avoid some of the frustration when dealing with the four wheel pirates, ask a few locals about the price before you talk to a driver, then tell the driver how much and make sure they agree, if not walk away there are many good-guys-drivers who deserve your business. The taxi price drops a lot when you step out on the street beyond the airport and parking lots, it can be very well worth the walk. Also sometimes the price is lower going to the airport if you get dropped off outside.

SHOPPING PRICES: Again ask a few times and get the right price. This how the natives usually treat each other, they know the right price and that's it. If you are really going to do a shop to drop spree consider paying a native friend to go with you as they can easily set things straight.

Heavy bartering is not normal with these people. It is a sickening sight to see moneyed tourists harassing the locals out of a few soles, those few pennies may make the difference how the family eats that night. There are vast economic imbalances between the "1st and 3rd worlds", please be kind and generous.

On the other hand tourists often get over charged, esp. in the cities and in the tourist traps. If the proper price isn't known my game is to show much interest then start to walk away, usually the correct price will be quickly offered.

Naturally all the info here is subject to change, in some cases I'm just guessing on the prices as I'm in the States now and I forget some of this stuff.

Much more information is to be found on our Travel Info page.

Also an excellent information source is South American Explorers Club

PERU:

LIMA:
- Hotel Manhattan Inn Tel (51) (1) 464-5811 S$34 D$44. They will arrange a pick up from the airport for $8. This is the only nice hotel within 10 minutes of the airport. Esp. good if you only want to rest the night between flights. It is not in a neighborhood to hang out in.

- Hotel Sol de Oro Tel (51 1) 446-9876
http://www.soldeoro.com.pe/index2.htm In Miraflores by the sea, nicest part of town but 30-50 minutes from the airport. Five star expensive but well worth it.

- Hostal Friends Home (51 1) 445-2598 (51 1) 445-2598 Also in Miraflores but good and backpacker cheap. I stay there sometimes.

- Contact and Guides: Peru Travel Service (1) 241-6616


CUSCO:
- Hotel Casa de Campo Tel (84) 24-4404 S$30 D$40. Beautiful rooms and view over town. I always take the groups here.

- Hostal Resbalosa Tel (84) 24-0461, $7 per night, somewhat quiet and near the main plaza.

- Favorite restaurants: Hay Lilly, Tertulia, Bagdad Cafe. Los Perros is the coolest hangout, coffee and couch bar.

- Guides: Patti (84) 26 0299, Rita (84) 23-2515 and Sacred Heritage Coordinator, Graciela 51/(84) 969-2575.


SACRED VALLEY - OLLANTAYTAMBO:
-Next to the ruins, just across from the old church are the weaving shops of Juila Farfan de Flores. She and two of her friends are women wise in the ways of native traditional healing. Their healing center and hotel is the Munay T'ika (84) 20-4111.

MACHU PICCHU - AGUAS CALIENTES:
- Gringo Bill's Hotel (84) 21-1046 $15-25 per person

- Hostel Wirachocha There are also many inexpensive places on the hill towards the hot springs, like this.

- Restaurants: Restaurants: The Indio Felize is expensive but one the best in Peru. Just up the hill from Indio Feliz the restaurant Los Apus is a favorite. Toto's has a great buffet and the best deserts.


LAKE TITICACA:

PUNO:
- Hostel Uros Tel (54) 35-2141 $6 common bath $9 private. This is one of the better deals in town.

- Hotel Pukara Tel (54) 36-8448 S$35 D$50. Very nice owners and place.

- Las Cabanas Tel (54) 35-1276. $15 per person. This is the place I take the groups, it is about a half hour south of Puno in the village of Chucuito. Much, much nicer than Puno. Great views of the bay.

- Guide services:The guide I work with is Delfina Cornejo (54) 36-6154, she can help you to visit Maria Charaja for a psychic reading with coca leaves, also for ceremonial healing.
-Edgar Adventures Tour AgencyTel(54) 35-3444


The ISLAND AMANTANI is absolutely my favorite:

- Daily there leaves from the Puno port a collectivo boat for the 4-hr trip out of the bay to the island. The cost has been 10 soles ($3.30), don't let anyone sell you a two way ticket as different boats leave each day. Please let me direct you to stay with my family there. My Comadre (mother of my Goddaughter) is a widow with six children. We have set up extra rooms and beds so that they can take in travelers. As guests you are served with a deep appreciation because your being there is a major support the process of raising those children. All that they charge is 15soles, about $5US, a day for bed and meals! Most often people give them much more, if you experience their loving service you will know why.

To find them turn east or left as you leave the boat and follow the shore passing the power plant (sometimes there are a few hours of light at night) and the large orphanage, the next large building is the Templo Aventista. Climbing up, beside and behind the church continue to the east/left until the rock walls show the one opening to the wall lined path. Climbing up a few hundred feet to a fork, turning right the first house is the Grandparents, the second is the widow's home. Her name is ANGELA QUISPE DE JULI, it is also very easy to ask anyone where she is.


NASCA:
Twenty minutes out of town the old hasienda, now motel Wasi Punko is quiet with natural native style. $15 per person (56) 52-3080 voice mail message only. Taxi from town 7 soles.

In town the Hostal Nasca for just 10 soles has a sweet feeling. (34) 52-2085

Guide: Juan Valdivia in his classic Chevy is the one. (56) 69-9335 or (56) 52-3080

Restaurants: La Tabula and La Canada.

Rainforest:
Those want to experience the rainforest from the comfort of a lodge can go to our page Amazon Rainforest Lodge and click on the links. These guys are doing the best job in genuine cultural support and rainforest preservation.
For less expensive camping check out Gilber at: Normita Tours.


BOLIVIA:

KALLAWAYA HEALERS:
In La Paz, Bolivia contact - Rosse Mary Tel +59(1) 712-47424, "Rosse Mary Vargas Vilela" vilelaros@hotmail.com. She is the one who can help you get to the Kallawaya healers.


COPACABANA:
- Hostel La Cupula Tel (59 Bolivia)(10) 862-2029 prices vary by room S$6 D$ 12-20. This is my favorite in town, excellent views and restaurant but I most appreciate the family atmosphere.

- Hostel Imperio $3 One of the better deals in town. It is right next to the church, on the lake side. The rooms are just below the shrine of the Virgin, I prefer the upper floor for it's views into the church and the hills.

- Restaurants: On the main tourist road leading to and near the lake, the best is El Crillon, also Puerta del Sol is my favorite for Titicaca trout.

ISLAND OF THE MOON:
- To get away from the crowd and join the locals for a while you can ask for my Compadre, Felix Mamani, at the Temple of the Priestesses, he has room and bedding for $3. Bring food and water with you, they can supply you with hot water for teas.

LA PAZ:
- Arcabucero Inn (02) 37-4475 S$15 D$20 Really nice for the price, right on the street of the witches market.

- Hotel Oberland (02) 79-6389 S$30 D$40 Out of the city in the valley of the moon, beautiful and much more mellow. I take the groups there.

- Guide services: Trek Bolivia (02) 31-7106.

OK YOU GUYS . . . ENJOY

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